U.S. approves billions in arms sales to Middle East countries

**U.S. Approves Billions in Arms Sales to Middle East Countries**

**WASHINGTON** — The U.S. State Department has approved multiple major arms sales packages to key Middle East allies totaling billions of dollars, aimed at bolstering regional air and missile defense capabilities amid ongoing security threats.

In one of the largest recent notifications, the State Department on March 19, 2026, greenlit potential sales exceeding **$16.5 billion** to three countries:

– **United Arab Emirates**: More than **$8.4 billion** for missiles, drones, radar systems, F-16 munitions, and aircraft upgrades.
– **Kuwait**: Approximately **$8 billion** for Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) radars.
– **Jordan**: **$70.5 million** for aircraft and munitions support.

These approvals are part of broader efforts to strengthen partners facing missile and drone threats in the region.

Additional emergency arms packages worth **$8.6 billion** were fast-tracked in May 2026 to Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE. These deals, which bypassed standard congressional review under emergency provisions, included Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS), Patriot missile replenishment, and battle command systems.

The sales support U.S. national security interests by enhancing the defensive capabilities of longstanding partners while sustaining American defense industry jobs. All proposed sales remain subject to final contract negotiations and congressional oversight where applicable.